Carpet-fastener



-(No Model.)

E. M. CHILD'S. CARPET FASTENER.

No. 553,151. PatentedJan. 14, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBENEZER M. CHILDS, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

CARPET-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,151, dated January 14, 1896. Application filed June 8, 1895. Serial No. 552,129. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, EBENEZER M. OHILDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Carpet- Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in carpet-fasteners, and has for its object to provide a fastening device of simple, inexpensive, and efficient constructiomwhich may be secured to the floor, and by means of which the edge of a carpet may be quickly and easily secured, said device also permitting the hasty removal or disengagement of the edge of the carpet when it is desired to take up the latter for the purpose of cleaning or storing the same. i

The invention consists in a carpet-fastening device wherein are embodied certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved carpetfastener constructed in accordance with this invention, one of the spring-actuated members thereof being raised in position to receive the edge of the carpet. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the pivoted spring-actuated members. Fig. 5 illustrates the mannerin which the edge of the carpet is engaged by the improved fastening device.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention contemplates dispensing with the usual carpet-tacks, and employing in lieu thereof a fastening device which is adapted to be secured permanently to the floor and to permit the ready engagement of the carpet therewith or its disengage ment therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings,1 designates a metal plate of elongated rectangular form, which is stamped from sheet metal and provided, in the course of. manufacture, with a downwardly-extending flange 2, disposed entirely around the edge thereof, said flange serving the twofold purpose of strengthening the plate and providing for the attachment of the other parts of the device. It will of course be understood, however, that the plate 1 with its surrounding flange may be formed in any usual or desired manner.

The plate is provided at suitable points with perforations, adapted to receive tacks or brads, by means of which the device may be secured to the floor, and is further providedwith a perforation 3 at or near each end, the purpose of which will appear. The surrounding flange 2 is provided at points oppo- 6 sitely disposed with perforations or notches, or both, for the reception of the transverse journals of a pair of pivoted wire fasteners, which will now be described. Each wire fastener comprises a transversely-extending a transverse portion or finger 7, arranged and adapted to operate above the plate 1 and formed with a downwardly-projecting pointed extremity, which is located in such manner as to register with and pass into its respective perforation 3 above referred to. members or fasteners are similarly formed, and the oifset or eccentric portions of their journals are acted upon by the opposite ends of a leaf-spring 8 secured at its central portion beneath the bottom of the plate 1 by means of a transverse pin 9 or other suitable retaining device. The oifset or eccentric portions of the journals of the spring-actuated members are disposed in a manner that will cause the spring 8 to normally hold the pointed o extremities of said members in engagement with the perforations 3.

In operation the wire fasteners 0r pivoted members are rocked upwardly, one at a time,

asindicated in Fig. 1, and the edge of the carpet passed over the pointed extremities thereof, after which said members are allowed to spring downward, thus firmly engaging and holding the edge of the carpet in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. plished in a very short space of time,and when it is desired to take up the carpet it may be done by simply reversing the operation described. The device is extremely simple, can

The wire 80 This may be accom- 10o be manufactured at small cost, and will be found to effect a great saving in time and labor.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a carpet fastening device, a stationary plate provided with a surrounding flange and also formed with a perforation, in combination with a swinging member hinged thereto and having its journal extended through and bearin gin said flange, the said swinging member being also provided with a pointed extremity adapted to enter the said perforation in the plate, and a spring for giving said swinging member a normal tendency toward the plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a carpet fastener, the combination with a plate adapted to be secured to the floor, of a wire fastener hinged thereto and provided with an offset in its journal, a spring operating in connection with said offset to hold said wire fastener against or toward said plate, said Wire fastener being provided with a downwardly projecting hooked or pointed extremity adapted to enter a perforation in the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a carpet fastener, the combination with aplate formed with a surrounding flange, of a pair of hinged members having their journals mounted in perforations or notches in said flange and provided as to such journals with offsets or eccentric projections, and a leaf spring interposed between and bearing at its opposite ends against said offsets or eccentric projections on the hinged members, and means for securing said spring in place, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EBENEZER M. OHILDS.

IVitnesses:

V. F. BLUME, J. P. MANN. 

